Picture frames

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed to picture frames. More particularly, this invention is directed to one or more picture frames with flexible borders that can be coupled together in a variety of configurations.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed generally to picture frames, and more particularly to one or more picture frames that can be easily coupled together in a wide variety of configurations, and which can be rearranged quickly at will without the need for tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Picture frames are widely available in an assortment of shapes, styles, and colors to display photos, drawings, artwork, documents, and any other item that a person may wish to display. Many of the picture frames available today, however, have limitations. Some picture frames are heavy or contain sharp edges and breakable glass. Some picture frames are constructed in such a way that it is difficult to insert a photo or to swap out one photo in place of another. Some picture frames are comprised of numerous parts including hardware with which the user must contend in order to use the picture frame. Some picture frames must be hung on a wall and others require a stand to display the photo. Many picture frames only allow a picture to be viewed from the front of the frame. Many picture frames do not have a mechanism for attaching to one or more other picture frames to make a collage, and even fewer allow for the attachment to other picture frames in a variety of configurations.

Thus, there is a need in the art for a picture frame that is lightweight, safe, allows for easy insertion and removal of pictures, can stand alone and display a picture from the front and back, contains few parts and no hardware, and can be attached to other picture frames in a variety of configurations easily, simply, quickly and without the use of tools.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a picture frame with a flexible border that allows for insertion of rigid panels containing one or more image documents into the border. The picture frame may also contain magnets for permitting attachment of the picture frame to other picture frames. The invention also relates to a plurality of picture frames comprising the above-mentioned elements. The invention also relates to a picture frame with a border having magnetic elements and a pair of rigid panels for holding an image document, where the border may be stretched over the rigid panels allowing the rigid panels to be held by the border.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings that form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, the present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation, with like reference numerals referring to like elements, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a picture frame of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the picture frame shown in FIG. 1 containing two pictures.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of two possible magnet configurations.

FIG. 4A illustrates the border of the picture frame depicted in FIG. 1, showing a magnet removed from a receptacle on the inside edge of the border.

FIG. 4B illustrates the border of the picture frame depicted in FIG. 4A, showing the magnet disposed in the receptacle.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the picture frame shown in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 6 illustrates the insertion of rigid panels into a flexible border.

FIG. 7 illustrates the removal of rigid panels from a flexible border.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate the front and back respectively of a single picture frame showing two different pictures.

FIGS. 9A-9P illustrate a variety of ways that two or more picture frames can be configured.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a picture frame with a flexible border that allows for insertion of rigid panels into the border. The picture frame may also contain magnets for attachment to other picture frames.

As used herein, the terms below are given the definitions that follow. The definitions are supplied to provide clarity and consistency and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention.

Picture Frame or Frame: an assembly for holding an item to be displayed. The item is not limited to a picture, and can include any item capable of being displayed in a frame.

Picture or Item to be Displayed or Image Document: an item that can be displayed in a picture frame. The item is not limited to a picture, and can include any item capable of being displayed in a frame. Examples include, but are not limited to, a picture, a photograph, a drawing, a poem, a certificate, a speech, a document, or a mirror.

Border: the outside portion of the picture frame that surrounds the window, rigid panels, or image document.

Window: the opening through which the image document is displayed. The window is surrounded by the border.

Outside Edge: the portions of the border that are viewable from a top view, a bottom view, a right view, and a left view. The opposite of the inside edge.

Inside Edge: the portions of the border that surround the window and are only viewable by perspective and cross-sectional views. The opposite of the outside border.

Rigid Panel: a transparent or translucent plate that fits into the window and through which a photo behind it can be seen.

Recess: an indentation or groove within the inside edge that holds the rigid panels in place.

Magnets or Magnetic Elements: materials or objects that produce a magnetic field. Can include permanent magnets, magnetic particles, or any other magnetized material.

Receptacle: a cavity in the border where a magnet may be disposed.

The picture frame of the present invention includes a flexible border disposed around a window and one or more rigid panels that fit into the border and cover the window. The picture frame may also contain one or more magnetic elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a picture frame 100 of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a front right perspective view of picture frame 100. Picture frame 100 can be any size or shape. In FIG. 1, picture frame 100 is sized to hold a wallet sized photograph, but picture frame 100 could be sized to hold any item to be displayed, such as, for example, a larger photo, a smaller photo, a square photo, a panoramic photo, a poster, a diploma, a postcard, or it could be randomly sized. In FIG. 1, picture frame 100 is a square shape, and more specifically, picture frame 100 is a rectangular shape, but picture frame 100 could be any shape, such as, for example, a circle, a triangle, a star, a moon, a diamond, or any other shape.

Picture frame 100 includes a border 110 which is a flexible material that is disposed around a window 120 and is capable of holding one or more rigid panels 130.

Border 110 can be made of any material capable of stretching around rigid panel 130. By way of example, border 110 may be made of silicone, plastic, rubber, PVC, polyurethane, or any other flexible material. Border 110 may be black, white, clear, or any color or combination of colors. Border 110 can have a pattern or it can be plain. Border 110 can have a consistent color or pattern or various portions of the border 110 can be of different colors or patterns.

Rigid panel 130 can be made of any material capable of retaining its shape and that is transparent enough to allow an image to be seen through rigid panel 130. By way of example, rigid panel 130 can be made of acrylic, Plexiglas®, plastic, glass, PVC, or any other suitable material. Rigid panel 130 can be completely transparent or it can be translucent. Rigid panel 130 can be completely clear or it can be tinted with a color or etched with a pattern. Rigid panel 130 may be replaced with a mirror. If picture frame 100 contains more than one rigid panel 130, the multiple rigid panels 130 can be the same or they can be different. For example, one rigid panel 130 may be transparent and the other rigid panel 130 may be translucent. In other examples, the panel 130 may be flexible or soft. By way of example, the panel 130 may be made of polyurethane, plastic, resin, silicone, or any other suitable material.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of picture frame 100 of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows border 110 and window 120 in an empty state (without image documents 210 or rigid panels 130 in place). As will be described in more detail in subsequent figures, border 110 contains an outside edge 220 and an inside edge 230. Inside edge 230 contains a recess 240 that in this example extends along the entire inside edge 230 of border 110. Recess 240 can be any depth capable of holding rigid panels 130 in place and is of a width capable of accommodating rigid panels 130 and one or more image documents 210. In the example shown in FIG. 2, a first image document 210 a and a second image document 210 b are sandwiched between a first rigid panel 130 a and a second rigid panel 130 b. The back of first image document 210 a and the back of second image document 210 b are touching so that the front of each image document is facing outwardly and can be seen respectively from the front and back of picture frame 100. In another example (not shown), a single two-sided image document may replace the two individual one-sided image documents 210. The image documents can be any item capable of being displayed in a frame, including, for example, but not limited to pictures, photographs, drawings, poems, certificates, speeches, documents, or mirrors.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the front and back sides of picture frame 100 are identical. In other examples (not shown) the front and back sides could be different. For example, the window on the front side may be a different shape than the window on the back side, or the first rigid panel may be colored and the second rigid panel may be clear, or the front of the picture frame may have a window but the back may not have a window. In the last example, the border may cover the entire back of the picture frame and lack a window or the back panel could be replaced with another item such as a mirror or an opaque panel, or a panel with a picture embedded therein.

Picture frame 100 also contains one or more magnets 250. In the example shown in FIG. 2, permanent magnets 250 are disposed within receptacles 410 located in the recesses 240 (see detail in FIG. 4A) in the inside edges of each of the four corners of border 110 (only one corner can be seen in FIG. 2).

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of the positioning of magnets 250. FIGS. 3A and 3B show the positioning of magnets 250 through a phantom view of the front of picture frame 100. In FIG. 3A magnets 250 in the upper left corner and the bottom right corner are oriented so that the positive sides are facing front and magnets 250 in the upper right corner and bottom left corner are oriented so that the negative sides are facing front. The back of the picture frame (not shown) would look the same. In FIG. 3B, magnets 250 in the upper left corner and the bottom right corner are oriented so that the negative sides are facing front and magnets 250 in the upper right corner and bottom left corner are oriented so that the positive sides are facing front. The back of the picture frame (not shown) would look the same. These arrangements, whereby the two positive sides are diagonal from each other and the two negative sides are diagonal from each other, allows each picture frame to connect with other picture frames regardless their orientations, position, or arrangements.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the details of inside edge 230 of border 110. More particularly, FIGS. 4A and 4B show inside edge 230 of border 110 and recess 240 contained in the inside edge 230. FIG. 4A shows a receptacle 410 for magnet 250 that fits therein. FIG. 4B shows the same border 110 as FIG. 4A but shows magnet 250 positioned in receptacle 410. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, magnet 250 is a cube. In other examples, magnet 250 could be other shapes capable of being disposed in picture frame 100. By way of example, magnets could be round or flat or rods. In the examples illustrated in the figures, magnets 250 are disposed in each of the four corners of border 110. In other examples, magnets may be disposed in the top, bottom, and/or sides of the border. In another example, a continuous magnet may be disposed all the way around inside edge 230 of border 110. In another example, several magnets may be disposed all the way around inside edge 230 of border 110. In still other examples, magnets may be disposed somewhere other than inside edge of border. By way of example, magnets may be disposed on the outside edge of border, magnets may be disposed on the front or back of border, magnets may be embedded anywhere within the border, or magnets may be disposed on one or more rigid panels. In other examples, the magnet could be magnetic particles or micro-magnetic particles embedded within the flexible border or rigid panels. In another example, the picture frames may not contain any magnets. In one example, the borders could include a plug-in system or tongue-in-groove system (similar to the system used within laminated flooring) for connecting one picture frame to another picture frame whereby by the picture frames may be connected by the construction of the borders. In other examples, the picture frames may include clips to connect the picture frames. In still other examples, the picture frames may contain any other attachment mechanism capable of coupling one picture frame to another picture frame. In another example, the picture frames may not contain any attachment mechanisms.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of picture frame 100 illustrated in FIG. 4B. FIG. 5 illustrates inside edge 230 of border 110 containing recess 240. It also illustrates two magnets 250 disposed in two receptacles 410.

FIG. 6 illustrates the insertion of two rigid panels 130 a and 130 b containing two image documents 210 a and 210 b into flexible border 110. In this example, first rigid panel 130 a and second rigid panel 130 b along with first photograph 210 a and second photograph 210 b are being inserted into recess 240 of inner edge 230 of border 110. The insertion is accomplished by stretching border 110 around rigid panels 130 a and 130 b and inserting rigid panels 130 a and 130 b into recess 240 within inner edge 230 of border 110.

FIG. 7 illustrates the removal of two rigid panels 130 a and 130 b containing two image documents 210 a and 210 b from flexible border 110. In this example, first rigid panel 130 a and second rigid panel 130 b along with first photograph 210 a and second photograph 210 b are being removed from recess 240 of inner edge 230 of border 110. The removal is accomplished by stretching border 110 away from rigid panels 130 a and 130 b and pulling rigid panels 130 a and 130 b out of border 110.

FIG. 8A illustrates the front of a picture frame 100 and FIG. 8B illustrates the back of the same picture frame 100. As can be seen in FIGS. 8A and 8B, two different photographs 210 a and 210 b can be displayed in one picture frame 100.

FIGS. 9A-9N illustrate examples of various configurations in which multiple picture frames can be arranged. Specifically, FIG. 9A illustrates two picture frames that are coupled together via magnetic attraction between two magnets in each picture frame. FIG. 9B illustrates two picture frames that are coupled together in a different configuration via magnetic attraction, but in this configuration, they are attached by only one magnet in each picture frame. FIG. 9C illustrates three picture frames that are coupled together via magnetic attraction between four magnets in the middle picture frame and two magnets in each side picture frame. FIG. 9D illustrates three picture frames that are coupled together in a different configuration via four magnets in the middle frame and two magnets in each side picture frame. FIG. 9E illustrates three picture frames that are coupled together in yet a different configuration via four magnets in the middle picture frame and two magnets in each side picture frame. FIG. 9F illustrates four picture frames that are coupled together via four magnets in the two middle picture frames and two magnets in each of the side picture frames. FIG. 9G illustrates four picture frames that are coupled together in a different configuration via four magnets in the two middle picture frames and two magnets in each of the side picture frames. FIG. 9H illustrates four picture frames that are coupled together in yet a different configuration via two magnets in the two middle picture frames and one magnet in each of the side picture frames. FIG. 9I illustrates ten picture frames that are coupled together in a star pattern via all four magnets on each picture frame. FIG. 9J illustrates nine picture frames that are coupled together in a random pattern via all four magnets on each picture frame. FIG. 9K illustrates ten picture frames displayed in two rows. In the front row, four picture frames are coupled together via magnetic attraction between four magnets in the two middle picture frames and two magnets in each of the side picture frames. In the back row, six picture frames are coupled together via magnetic attraction between four magnets in the four middle picture frames and two magnets in each of the side picture frames. FIG. 9L illustrates ten picture frames that are coupled together in a random pattern via four magnets in the seven middle picture frames and two magnets in each of the side picture frames. FIG. 9M illustrates four picture frames that are coupled together in a stacked position via all four magnets in all four picture frames. FIG. 9N illustrates two pictures that are coupled together via two magnets in each picture frame. FIG. 9O illustrates three pictures that are coupled together via two magnets in each picture frame. FIG. 9P illustrates three pictures that are coupled together in a different configuration via four magnets in each picture frame.

In the examples above, all of the picture frames are the same size and shape, but in other examples, the picture frames can be different sizes and different shapes. Also, the picture frames can be configured in numerous configurations and the above examples are for illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

1. A picture frame comprising: a flexible border; and, one or more rigid panels, wherein said panels are capable of insertion into said border.
 2. The picture frame of claim 1 comprising two panels.
 3. The picture frame of claim 1, wherein said border further comprises one or more magnets.
 4. The picture frame of claim 3, wherein said magnets are cube shaped.
 5. The picture frame of claim 3, wherein said border further comprises an inside edge, wherein said inside edge further comprises a recess.
 6. The picture frame of claim 5, wherein said one or more magnets are disposed in said inside edge.
 7. The picture frame of claim 6, wherein said recess further comprises one or more receptacles and wherein said magnets are disposed in said receptacles.
 8. The picture frame of claim 5, wherein said panels are capable of insertion into said recess.
 9. The picture frame of claim 8, wherein said panels are capable of insertion into said recess by stretching said border around said panels.
 10. The picture frame of claim 8, wherein said border further comprises an outside edge, and said picture frame is capable of standing on a horizontal surface unaided on said outside edge.
 11. The picture frame of claim 1, wherein said picture frame is square in shape.
 12. The picture frame of claim 11, wherein said picture frame is rectangular in shape.
 13. A plurality of picture frames comprising: a first picture frame, wherein said first picture frame comprises: a first frame flexible border, wherein said first frame flexible border further comprises one or more first frame magnets; and, one or more first frame rigid panels, wherein said first frame rigid panels are capable of insertion into said first frame flexible border; and, a second picture frame, wherein said second picture frame comprises: a second frame flexible border, wherein said second frame flexible border further comprises one or more second frame magnets; and, one or more second frame rigid panels, wherein said second frame rigid panels are capable of insertion into said second frame flexible border.
 14. The plurality of picture frames of claim 13, wherein said first picture frame is capable of removably coupling to said second picture frame.
 15. The plurality of picture frames of claim 14, wherein said coupling is enabled by a magnetic attraction between said one or more first frame magnets and said one or more second frame magnets.
 16. The plurality of picture frames of claim 13, wherein said one or more first frame magnets are capable of removably coupling to said one or more second frame magnets.
 17. The plurality of picture frames of claim 13, wherein said first picture frame is square in shape and wherein said second picture frame is square in shape.
 18. The plurality of picture frames of claim 17, wherein said first frame flexible border comprises four first frame corners and four first frame sides and wherein said second frame flexible border comprises four second frame corners and four second frame sides.
 19. The plurality of picture frames of claim 18, wherein said first frame flexible border comprises four first frame magnets and wherein said second frame flexible border comprises four second frame magnets.
 20. The plurality of picture frames of claim 19, wherein each of said four first frame magnets are disposed in one of said first frame corners and wherein each of said four second frame magnets are disposed in one of said second frame corners.
 21. The plurality of picture frames of claim 20, wherein at least one of said four first frame magnets are capable of removably coupling to at least one of said four second frame magnets.
 22. The plurality of picture frames of claim 20, wherein said four first frame magnets are capable of removably coupling to said four second frame magnets.
 23. The plurality of picture frames of claim 13, further comprising: a third picture frame, wherein said third picture frame comprises: a third frame flexible border, wherein said third frame flexible border further comprises one or more third frame magnets; and, one or more third frame rigid panels, wherein said third frame rigid panels are capable of insertion into said third frame flexible border.
 24. The plurality of picture frames of claim 23, further comprising: a fourth picture frame, wherein said fourth picture frame comprises: a fourth frame flexible border, wherein said fourth frame flexible border further comprises one or more fourth frame magnets; and, one or more fourth frame rigid panels, wherein said fourth frame rigid panels are capable of insertion into said fourth frame flexible border.
 25. A picture frame, comprising: a border having at least one magnetic element therein; a pair of rigid panels for holding an image document therebetween; wherein said border may be stretched over said pair of rigid panels so as to hold same within said border.
 26. The picture frame of claim 25, wherein said border includes a recess formed in an inner periphery thereof, said pair of rigid panels fitting within said recess when said border is stretched over said pair of rigid panels.
 27. The picture frame of claim 25, further comprising a second picture frame that is substantially the same as said picture frame, whereby said second picture frame and said picture frame may be coupled together by their respective magnetic elements. 